It has been a tumultuous year in South African politics, but we end it in slightly better shape than we started it – with a dangerous president increasingly running out of road, writes Arthur Christopher.

Khoza withdraws from Sascoc race

Irvin Khoza will no longer be opposing incumbent Gideon Sam for the seat of SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president, he has said.

“I have applied my mind on the implication of my standing for Sascoc presidency and all other nominations,” Khoza said in a statement today.

“My thinking included the encouraging results from the London Olympics.”

Khoza believed Sam and his executive had created a base on which they should be supported.

“My experience is that it takes more than one term to stabilise an organisation into sustainable, winning ways.”

Sascoc revealed in October that the National Soccer League (NSL) chairperson would contest Sam’s position, and/or that of vice-president, at its quadrennial elections at Olympic House in Johannesburg on November 24.

At the time, Khoza said he had accepted the nominations in time to make the closing date, with an understanding with those who nominated him that he was keeping his options open.

He said he would use the time between then and the actual elections to apply his mind to the implications of his running.

After announcing his withdrawal from the race, Khoza, who was last week re-elected unopposed as NSL chief, said he would now put his weight behind Sam and his executive.

“I am therefore throwing my lot behind Mr Sam and his executive. I wish them luck over and above the hard work and dedication I know it takes to succeed,” he said.

Sam, a former president of Swimming SA and Springbok team manager, has been president of the Olympic body since 2008, when he replaced former Sascoc chief Moss Mashishi.

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